Ophthalmic photographic apparatus

• US 20060028617A1
• Filed: 12/03/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: KOWA Company Limited
• Original Assignee: KOWA Company Limited
• Inventors: Mizuochi, Masaharu, Matsumura, Kazunori
• Granted Patent: US 7,270,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 351/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/14 Arrangements specially adapted for eye photography apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs per se G03B

Abstract

An ophthalmic photographic apparatus is provided that is readily able to capture dynamic and still eye fundus images by infrared light-excited fluorescence. A CCD device that is sensitive to infrared light is used to capture images of the eye fundus as dynamic and still images. When the shutter button is pressed, infrared light-excited fluorescence images are obtained as still images and stored in a recording unit. The infrared light-excited fluorescence image of the eye fundus is captured as a still image with or without a flash from a strobe light source. Such an arrangement makes it possible to capture still images even when dynamic images are being recorded.

Claims

1. An ophthalmic photographic apparatus for capturing dynamic and still eye fundus images by infrared light-excited fluorescence, comprising:

a photographic means sensitive to infrared light used for photographing dynamic and still eye fundus images by infrared light-excited fluorescence;

a strobe light source; and

means for switching an image capture to first and second modes;

wherein the strobe light source is activated in the first mode to emit a flash to capture the infrared light-excited fluorescence image of the eye fundus as a still image and deactivated in the second mode to capture it as dynamic and still images.

2. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographic means can be used for observation during photography by infrared light-excited fluorescence and during other photography.

3. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an automatic gain control function of the photographic means is turned off in the first mode, and turned on in the second mode.

4. An ophthalmic photographic apparatus for capturing dynamic and still eye fundus images by infrared light-excited fluorescence, comprising:

a first photographic means sensitive to infrared light used for photographing dynamic and still eye fundus images by infrared light-excited fluorescence;

a second photographic means sensitive to infrared light used for photographing a still eye fundus image by infrared light-excited fluorescence;

a strobe light source;

means for selecting the first and second photographic means; and

means for switching an image capture to first and second modes;

wherein, when the first photographic means is selected, the strobe light source is activated in the first mode to emit a flash to capture the infrared light-excited fluorescence image of the eye fundus as a still image and deactivated in the second mode to capture it as dynamic and still images, and, when the second photographic means is selected, the strobe light source is activated to capture the infrared light-excited fluorescence image of the eye fundus as a still image.

5. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first photographic means can be used for observation during photography by infrared light-excited fluorescence and during other photography.

6. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein an automatic gain control function of the first photographic means is turned off in the first mode, and turned on in the second mode.

7. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sensitivity of the second photographic means is reduced during an initial stage of infrared light-excited fluorescence, and increased during a latter stage thereof.

8. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second photographic means has a higher number of pixels than the first photographic means.

9. The ophthalmic photographic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second photographic means can be externally attached.